NGL-Task Force Executive Director to step down after five years
Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and a national leader in the struggle for equal rights and social justice, announced January 23 he will step down in April to lead the Gay & Lesbian Program at the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Foreman has led the Task Force for five years and helped propel the organization to national prominence as an outsmore --------------------------------------------------

[At press time, the Seattle Gay News was unable to interview Senator Ed Murray extensively. Murray is the co-sponsor of the 2008 domestic partnership bill and a long-time openly Gay legislator. Look for Murray's interview in next week's SGN as part of our continuing coverage.] <more--------------------------------------------------

When Marko Liias, a 26-year-old Democrat from Mukilteo, replaced former Rep. Brian Sullivan in early January, he became the sixth openly Gay member of the Washington state Legislature. His appointment elevates Washington's caucus to one of the most Gay-friendly in the natimore --------------------------------------------------

For Gays in states with the largest Gay populations, like California, it's decision time in the 2008 presidential race. From the evidence available - anecdotal and indirect - most Gays are trying to choose between the top two Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. For those who more --------------------------------------------------

FRONTRUNNERS CLEAR NOW
There are two clear frontrunners now in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, and while John McCain has enjoyed a surge of popularity in New Hampshire and South Carolina, Mitt Romney has the delegate lead in the race for the Republican nominamore --------------------------------------------------

International News

International News PROTESTER FOUND GUILTY
IN RIGA PRIDE ATTACK
An assistant to Latvian MP Dainis Turlais was found guilty of gross public disorderliness January 15 for throwing what was likely a bag of feces at celebrants attending the 2006 Gay pride events in Riga.

Janis Dzelme was sentenced to 100 hours of compulsory labor by the Vidzeme District Court for demonstratinmore

That headline and variations of it appeared around the world this past week as the mainstream media went into panic overdrive in response to research showing Gay men in San Francisco and several other urban areas were at a highemore
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In the coming week, the Democratic campaign for President of the United States heats up. Some 24 states will vote in primaries and caucuses on February 5. There's a possibility that the nomination could once again be decided before Washington State decides its choice four days later. Tmore